FILE: Purdue's Jay Simpson looks to pass during the team's media day practice Monday,. October 22, 2012, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette.

Written by

Jeff Washburn

If he could turn back the clock, Matt Painter probably would give serious consideration to redshirting 6-foot-9 freshman forward Jay Simpson, who is averaging only 7.6 minutes a game through Purdue's first eight contests.

It's not that Simpson is playing poorly. But after breaking a foot in the spring and battling asthma and cardiovascular issues, it's difficult at this point in Simpson's career to play him for more than three-minute stretches.

Had Painter redshirted Simpson, the player might have gotten into the kind of shape that would allow him to play upwards of 30 minutes as a ...